Local Bodies: Greens Immediately Become the Opposition.

Written By: - Date published: 7:16 am, September 27th, 2014 - 63 comments
Categories: election 2014, greens, labour, national, nz first, same old national - Tags:

I admit that I was disappointed and slightly gutted that I wasn’t part of the new Green Caucus this week, the way we were polling the week before it looked as though I had a real chance. It never happened and the celebratory feeling at the beginning of our election night party slowly morphed into a that of a wake when we realized that the 10% wasn’t going to grow.

I actually ended up grieving, not for myself, but for our party. We had put together an amazing team of people to lead our campaign and fundraising and we had worked extremely hard since 2011 in becoming prepared to govern. Our aspirational policies had been shaped into practical first steps of a transition to a cleaner, fairer, smarter future. We were the only party to have a clearly expressed economic vision that was independently reviewed. Our 6000 volunteers, door knocked, phone called, leaflet dropped and put up more billboards than ever before. Our online campaign was impressive and we easily out interneted the Internet Party.

I have already shared my views regarding where things went wrong, but a number of things went well. I couldn’t work out initially why our membership in Invercargill had doubled since 2011, a heap more people were volunteering and yet our vote didn’t increase. What I think has happened is that our committed Green voters actually strengthened. I have had more people tell me proudly, in voices loud enough for others to hear, that they had voted Green. Even the taxi driver who took me to the airport this morning told me he had voted Green and wants a billboard on his fence for the next election. In 2011 most told me this privately (with nervous looks behind them) that they had voted for us and in 2008 people who had quietly promised to vote for us couldn’t make eye contact afterwards. There has been a noticeable acceptance of the Greens as player in mainstream politics and voting Green has become more than a protest vote.

The remains of Labour’s caucus will have to spend some time licking its collective wounds and trying to sort out a leader under the constant scrutiny of the media sharks. It may result in Labour ending up having four different leaders during the last four years and this instability and distraction does not lead to strong opposition. National loves to neuter each incoming leader before they can settle into the role and there will obviously be a replacement for Jason Ede (positioned somewhere near Key’s Office) to continue the work that has proved successful in the past. Once they finally confirm a leader (a lengthy process now), Labour will be too busy fighting yet more innuendo and character assassinations to function effectively in opposition.
Even with the experienced Ron Mark joining New Zealand First’s new lineup, over half of Winston’s new team lack parliamentary experience and one even has asecret past. New Zealand First will be mainly relying on their leader, yet again, to lead their opposition and few will be effective in select committees for some time. Winston will also have his hands full appointing more staff and working out what kind of team he has brought in this time round.

There is also a good possibility that we Greens will retain fourteen MPs after the overseas votes are included in the total, thirteen of them are experienced and joined by the talented James Shaw (who will hit the ground running). We are the only opposition party largely intact and ready for immediate action. We are stronger, smarter and more able than at the beginning of 2011 and National’s frontline has taken some hits over the last few months. With the likes of David Seymour as an associate minister the Green opposition team are bound to wipe some smug smiles off a number of Government faces and the work has already begun.

63 comments on “Local Bodies: Greens Immediately Become the Opposition. ”

  1. karol 1

    Yes. I was disappointed with the fact that the Greens didn’t increase their vote this time. I was one of the volunteers that helped with the election campaign – first time in my 6 decades of life I have contributed to a campaign.

    But, I was pleased the Green vote held.

    I also have come across one or two people at work who said they voted Green Party.

    I think that Dirty Politics and the MoT came too late. they tended to hog the headlines, and that mean that the Greens campaign got somewhat sidelined.

    I do think that there probably needs to be continuing work to strength the GP organisation and networks within communities from the beginning of this term – starting now – maybe more of the localised meetings GP MPs did last term, but also with more socialising and/entertainments.

    I was very pleased to see the rise in support for the GP in Auckland among Maori & Pasifika women.

    I hope the Greens public transport campaign continues strongly, too. i am very pleased with some of the changes to Western bus routes – connecting more easily and regularly with buses to other parts of Auckland. it means I’m using public transport now more than ever.

    Metiria Turei’s focus on poverty and inequality has helped keep that issue front and centre in and out of the House. I’m hoping to see that continue.

    • AmaKiwi 1.1

      I watched Julie Genter’s speech in the House rebutting Key’s $12 billion highway plans.

      Genter was brilliant!

      • phillip ure 1.1.1

        i am bummed genter is not the minister of transport..

        ..i was looking forward to her rejuvenating auckland..

        ..her ‘greening’ of transport..

        ..now for the next three years..

        ..it’s just more of..who is it again..?

        • ghostwhowalksnz 1.1.1.1

          bit of a disconnect with the above story

          ” Even the taxi driver who took me to the airport this morning told me “

      • Murray Olsen 1.1.2

        Julie Anne has to be the next Minister of Transport. No other party has anyone half as good.

    • Karol, I am sure strengthening our local networks will help but there is no getting around the fact that despite all our increased capacity on the ground this time it didn’t increase the votes. We ran a strong campaign in Invercargill and yet New Zealand First got 1000 more party votes than us with few billboards, no leaflets and a local candidate who was trying to cover three electorates. There is no getting around the fact that having a presence in MSM in the last weeks is crucial for all the non committed voters. Winston was able to capture that space over the Greens as the supposed ‘Kingmaker’ and any attention we did get was around fabricated controversy (like us looking for a coalition with National).

      The Greens became almost invisible in the MSM in the last weeks as we did in 2011. Jane Clifton again managed to ignore us in her columns, our policy releases were barely acknowledged and our leaders were unfairly placed in the ranks of the minor parties again with those struggling to get even 1%.

      In Invercargill our local newspaper refused to cover my campaign opening with Metiria and Catherine Delahunty, and we had attracted a good crowd with our focus on education. The Southland Times also ignored Labour’s Big Red Bus when it arrived in town and yet John Key gifting our new sports stadium $2 million dollars was on the front page in the last week. Rather than reporting the news it looked to me that Fairfax was shaping the news to a large extent.

      We connected well with our support base but could not capture the MSM to get wider exposure. Solid and sensible doesn’t grab headlines although it makes for good governance.

      • karol 1.2.1

        Thanks, Dave for a very useful analysis.

        I do think the marginalising of the Greens by the MSM is a major problem. Along with the way the infotainment media works – they thrive on drama, conflict, celebrity culture, and sensationalism, which, as you say, is totally opposed to the Greens’ MO.

      • Ant 1.2.2

        I think the Greens were just starved of oxygen in the media, had a few smears chucked their way, and those “Love New Zealand?” billboards were off the mark — a lot of the left needlessly overcomplicated their advertising.

        Anecdotally the smear about the Greens going with National in coalition might have lost a few votes in some sectors. I had to convince a family member who was withdrawing their Green party vote that it was a beat up.

        There are still a generation of people who consume traditional media that dirty politics of that variety works on, they still have a innate trust of mainstream journalists.

        I think that vote went back to Labour in the end, so it could be a case of an average Green result ameliorating what would have been an even more terrible Labour result.

        • weka 1.2.2.1

          I also think its likely that people didn’t vote GP because of the smear. Seeing the reaction of people here in ts who didn’t understand the actual GP position and instead got caught up by the smear, and then extrapolating that into the general public, most of whom will be unaware of the GP’s actual position and why they have it, it’s not hard to see votes going elsewhere.

          There is a lesson here for the GP though. You can’t rely on people understanding the complexities of internal party process and choices, esp during an election campaign. I don’t expect this to be done in public, but I hope to hell there is some reflection in how Norman and the wider party machine responded to the smear and better strategy for next time (because tehre will be a next time).

          Having said that, it looks to me like there was a lot of vote shuffling between many parties and in the end it’s really hard to tell where the votes went and for what reason.

          • KJT 1.2.2.1.1

            I know a few people who did not vote Green because of the smear that we would go with National. A clever bit of dirty politics, false flag, by the National parties cheer squad.

            From my, admittedly, small sample size, a hundred of so people, it translates into much more than 2%

  2. AmaKiwi 2

    During the Shearer era I joined the Greens. My political opponents were:

    1. The Key government
    2. The Labour caucus.

    I returned to Labour when Cunliffe became leader. Since the prospects of Labour becoming a democratically governed organization are near zero, I expect to be re-joining the Greens shortly.

    Labour Caucus dinosaurs take note: In this election I worked more than 300 hours for Labour and donated $2,000 cash and more than $500 in other bits and pieces. By rejecting my participation in governing the party, you reject me. Goodbye.

  3. karol 3

    Yeah. The right will do their best to destroy any potential challengers, by fair means or foul.

  4. marie 4

    In many ways the Greens’ campaign was strong and the polling before the election reflected this. However, frequent attempts to try and position the Greens as the main opposition party damaged both the Labour and Green vote. Attacks on Labour’s budget, e.g., played into National’s hands. Most importantly though, Russel’s talk of cosying up with National scared off many new voters and worried their long time supporters. The Left will not be in power unless all of its parts are united. The Greens have to accept that they played a part in the outcome on election night. Unfortunately, I don’t see any evidence yet that this is the case. As National is very well aware…..united we stand, divided we fall.

    • karol 4.1

      marie, two of the criticisms you make of the Greens are things manufactureed by the MSM:

      1) The Greens didn’t attack the Labour budget: they said they would have it scrutinised in the same way that they had their own budget scrutinised by an independent body. The aim of this is to giver more credibility to any budget the Greens promote or support.

      2) The talk of cosying up to National was all the MSM.

      Furthermore, what Dave said above.

      • marie 4.1.1

        Unfortunately, the MSM will take whatever parties on the Left say and twist it to sound as if the parties/factions are at odds. The Greens may have only wanted to look at Labour’s budget as they looked at their own, but, let’s not be naive here…..there was always going to be only one way the MSM would portray that comment!

        This also goes for Russel’s comments on TV about working with National.

      • weka 4.1.2

        “2) The talk of cosying up to National was all the MSM.”

        Yes, Corin Dann made a sensation out of nothing, but if the GP want to be the main opposition they will have to wise up on this. I don’t think we have any way of knowing whether what Dann did or Norman’s response cost the GP votes, or whether it gave them soft right wing votes. Myself, I think it’s better to stick with the core vote than try and pick up the soft right ones and to that end the GP need to lift their game on responding to media manipulation.

        I can see how some people thought the GP attacked Labour over the budget, but I think it only looks that way because Labour were struggling so badly. The GP’s point about the audit was valid, but perhaps they could have made the point earlier in the campaign?

        • KJT 4.1.2.1

          It was very clear what the Green position was about working with National.

          The media chose to invent their own story.

          I don’t know how you can counter that degree of deliberate representation, when the media publishes the initial BS on the front page, and the rebuttal is deliberately buried on the business section.

          And the Greens said that all parties should get their polices independently costed. Not Labour in particular. Another example of shameless spin from an unabashedly partisan media.

          • KJT 4.1.2.1.1

            Mis-representation.

          • weka 4.1.2.1.2

            Norman was on the telly the next morning, he had the chance to shout out that the GP would (a) support Labour to change the govt and (b) wouldn’t support a National govt because of policy. He did actually say that, but he didn’t say it clearly enough for the people that want and need a clear statement.

  5. as a green insider..

    ..cd you please tell us if the greens are doing any work on how to instruct their supporters to vote tactically..

    ..to try to avoid a repitition of the vote-splitting/gifting to the right up and down the country..

    ..with perhaps the most egregious/irony-drenched example being dunne..the man who has previously kept the greens out of govt..

    ..winning his seat by 900+ seats..

    ..and the green party candidates..getting 2,400 electorate votes..

    ..how can that fact/result have you not both face-palming..and smashing yr foreheads into yr desks..?

    ..and until the greens/progressives get their shit together..and learn how to both work together and to tactically vote..

    ..the progressives will just continue gifting election results to the right..

    ..and gifting his seat to that utter douchebag..dunne..

    ..w.t.f. are you thinking..?

    • marie 5.1

      Absolutely agree!

      • weka 5.1.1

        There are a few problems for the GP with giving instructions to voters on tactical voting.

        One is that there are always going to be people who you can’t reach, and that number may be significant. People who already know they vote GP but aren’t following the election. I suspect there are quite a few of those.

        The other is that if the GP starts telling its voters how to vote tactically, it loses some moral high ground and starts to looking like the dirty dealing right. The dirty dealing right can get away with that, I don’t think the GP can, because its voters actually value ethics.

        Better that the GP simply don’t stand candidates in crucial electorates. They didn’t put anyone in Te Tai Tokerau, although it’s never been clear if that was intentional or because they didn’t have anyone suitable. They could have chosen to do the same for Ōhāriu.

        I’m not sure if there were any other electorates this time that could have affected the outcome of the election, so beyond that it’s about granting concessions to Labour so they can have a seat MP over National. That ain’t gonna happen unless Labour start working contructively with the GP as an ally. Even then I’m not sure it would because (a) the GP appear to have pretty staunch policy on not doing this (see my questions for Dave below) and (b) the GP would be giving up party votes if they did this (the main point of standing someone in an electorate is because it increases the party vote for the GP).

        • outofbed 5.1.1.1

          I think you will find that any discussions of electoral accommodation between the Greens and Labour would have to have two willing parties.
          I think the question therefore is best addressed to Labour

          • weka 5.1.1.1.1

            yes, which is what I am saying, but I’m not suggesting that the GP do accomodations with Labour, I’m suggesting they don’t stand people in key electorates for the greater good. Nothing to do with Labour.

            • KJT 5.1.1.1.1.1

              Labour, in many cases take the attitude that they own the left vote and the Green upstarts are pinching it.

              My answer is they abandoned the left vote in 1984, and it is up to them to earn it back.
              However as both parties membership aims are so close, we should be working together.

            • phillip ure 5.1.1.1.1.2

              of course it has to ‘do with’ labour..

              ..labour and the greens have to learn to make accomodations with each other..

              ..(the mechanics of which they will have to work out..)

              ..these repeated battles to the death just lead to splitting the vote and defeat..

              ..and just hurt the progressive-cause..

              ..but if they can’t even get it together to throw dunne out..

              ..and turei after the election claimed ‘there was nothing more the greens could have done..’

              ..i do kinda despair..

              • KJT

                It means that Labour MP’s also have to be progressive. The Labour caucus seems more “regressive”.

                And, like Weka I do feel for Labour members who, I think, have been let down badly by MP’s who do not respect Democracy within the party.

              • ghostwhowalksnz

                Well NZ First didnt run any electorates at all. None Zero Zilch

                How did that turn out for them ?

                Of course you cant give labour a gift without something in return.

                I electoral terms, Green doesnt seem close to winning any electorates, so why divert resources.

                In fact voters ‘could be seen to be Ok’ with giving electorate vote Labour ( or even national if they like their MP) but give their party vote Green.

                Phil ‘Ure are a genuis”

                • weka

                  “Well NZ First didnt run any electorates at all. None Zero Zilch

                  How did that turn out for them ?”

                  Let’s see how well that works for them once the Peters factor is gone.

                  The GP stand in electorates to increase the party vote. How many times does this have to be said? They’re not going to give that up without some meaningful quid pro quo.

                • alwyn

                  “Well NZ First didnt run any electorates at all. None Zero Zilch”

                  What on earth are you saying here? In my tired mood this morning I read it to be claiming that New Zealand First didn’t have candidates standing in any of the electorates. Silly me. When I look at the official website –
                  http://www.elections.org.nz/
                  I discover from a casual look at the first 12 electorates they give results for, that is Bay of Plenty to Epsom, that 5 of them had New Zealand First candidates.

                  What were you really trying to say, since my interpretation must be wrong?

                • Wynston

                  NZ First did run electoral candidates in at least some seats. We had one here in Invercargill.

              • weka

                “..labour and the greens have to learn to make accomodations with each other..”

                That’s not possible until Labour sorts its shit out. In the meantime the GP can choose to not stand in key electorates, irrespective of Labour. The key electorates (Ōhāriu and TTT) didn’t require any kind of deal with Labour.

                I’m also not convinced that formal accommodations are the way to go at this point. It really depends on what Labour does.

                • ..why did they stand in ohariu this time..?

                  ..it is bone-headed stupidity..

                  ..they could have done away with dunne..

                  ..the man who blocked them from govt..

                  ..and they chose not to..?

                  ..they gifted him his 11th term..?

                  ..but there is ‘nothing the greens could have done better..?

                  ..whoar..!..

    • The Al1en 5.2

      Rather than going way off topic, if you really want to know the answer to your questions, you could always go here to find out https://www.greens.org.nz/contact

      Replace the first line of your post with Dear Green party, then copy and paste the rest of it and press send.
      Let us know how you get on.

    • We had a very good article in our members magazine on voting in an MMP environment. Communicating tactics to our wider supporters is hugely problematic. When it comes down to it, the Party vote is the simplest message and ensures us of the best result. Electorate voting can be a distraction and only really becomes a real issue in electorates like Epsom.

  6. CeeH 6

    I also am looking to leave Labour if DC does not get to retain leadership. So sick of Labour changing leaders every time they lose. I have always admired the Greens for their unity – in the party and especially between the 2 leaders. Russell and Metiria look like they can handle the pressure of the right wing media. In the chch debate I will never forget Russell’s response to a question when asked why should someone who organized his life differently help feed someone’s children who made wrong choices? His reply was because it’s not the kids fault why their parents make unwise decisions then added and when they grow up they will provide for his super. Touched my heart that did. I hope the Green Party can outwit the Nats.

  7. Jay 7

    Like most kiwis I love our beautiful country, but I could never vote greens as their social policies are too far left for me, and I believe wealth for our country is in exports and therefore extraction. If I was planning party strategy going forward I would be like the Maori party and position the Greens to work with either side for the good of the planet. With National signalling they will be doing more for our environment the Greens run a serious risk of losing even more vote next election. I don’t think labour have a dogs show of leading the next government, are green party supporters prepared to waste their vote again next election? Are the greens prepared to take at least six more years in opposition? Can they survive that? What I am sure of is that it would be foolish to do the same things this term and expect a different result next election.

    • karol 7.1

      That’s worked out so well for the Maori Party.

      • KJT 7.1.1

        When Greens lost so many votes at even a hint they may join National.

        And the Maori party have tanked, for actually doing it.
        Though Flavell has genuine mana, it will be a long time before Maori voters forget.

    • KJT 7.2

      What are you going to tell your grandkids when NZ is mined out, running water is all too polluted to use and we are overrun with armed climate refugees.

  8. weka 8

    Thanks for the post Dave. A few questions,

    “What I think has happened is that our committed Green voters actually strengthened”

    What evidence is there that the MSM coverage is the crucial thing in the last few weeks to increasing votes?

    Is the GP going to revisit concessions? (re Ōhāriu and Te Tai Tokerau) Is there any kind of discussion about this, or is it simply off the table? BY concessions I don’t necessarily mean formal deals, but looking at whether the benefit of standing a candidate in any given electorate is outweighed by the greater good (eg Ōhāriu).

    • Weka you are right the MSM wasn’t crucial to our success, probably there wasn’t a general mood for a change and people didn’t see a strong Government from Labour/Greens, we weren’t getting the numbers and Labour was struggling. It is always difficult to change a government when the economy appears to be ticking along for most people and all those who aren’t getting a fair deal still aren’t voting.

      The concession issue will be part of our positioning discussions we have each year.

      • I should have said each election year.

      • weka 8.1.2

        hmm, I wasn’t saying that the MSM weren’t crucial, I was just asking if there is evidence. The only thing I can think of is if the GP or someone did some polling on the issue. Or perhaps there is a pattern from previous elections to go on. It seems difficult to know what happened this year, lots of variable.s

        “The concession issue will be part of our positioning discussions we have each year.”

        Where do those discussions take place? (asking as a member).

        • We will do some polling and analysis as part of our campaign review. Political positioning is discussed with our wider membership at branch and provincial level and feedback is shaped into a remit that goes to our AGM before an election year. It has roughly been the same over the past two elections.

  9. anker 9

    I think it isn’t helpful to be talking about the Greens becoming the main opposition party, while Labour is struggling at the moment.

    That may well happen and by all means plan to strengthen your base. But it could be interpreted in a way that goes against all the talk of the left needing to be united. I think all parties on the left have done it and there are many examples, so I am not saying “it’s just the Greens, blah, blah ,blah”.

    BTW does anyone have the link for the face book page “keep David Cunliffe face book page” . I will definitely leave Labour if Shearer gets in.

    • weka 9.1

      Hi anker, the way I read it is that the GP is no longer wiling to play second fiddle to Labour not least because Labour has consistently, for years, spurned them.

      There is also the issue of Labour’s struggle being a left/right one. If the GP wait until that is resolved, they may find that Labour go right and in the meantimes ground is lost on the left. From a Green perspective we don’t have time (AGW esp but also the damage that National will do).

      My sense is that the GP is out of patience on both being spurned and with Labour’s internal problems. I do feel for Labour party supporters like you and others here, and I dearly wish that Labour would just go left and be the party its meant to be. But I think it’s more likely that Labour will remain a centrist party, and in that case the GP need to go hard to claim the left ground, and that unfortunately includes when Labour are struggling.

      Having said that, looking at what the GP are doing, I think this would be their strategy coming out of this election not matter what Labour were doing or not doing.

      • KJT 9.1.1

        The Greens are already trying to stop National’s destruction.

        Labour are re-arranging the leadership, Again!

        The party belongs to the membership, not caucus.

  10. Mark 10

    Weka Labour went left under Cunliffe and we’re soundly rejected by electorate because that is not the political inclination of most kiwis. Centre left has a chance to govern bUT the electorate want labour to focus on job creation not benefit entitlements. The roots of Labour sits with workers and having access to decent jobs with fair working conditions. Too many people I know have gone away from labour because they feel that labour has forgotten what it stands for

    • KJT 10.1

      “Labour went left” bullshit.

      What polices changed to more, left.

      Labour went up in the polls, and membership increased, as Cunliffe gained the leadership, because everyone thought they would again become a left wing party supporting workers, the disadvantaged and the rest of us.

      When that failed to happen, the vote went down.

      When National went left, pretended to care about children and old people, their vote went up.

    • KJT 10.2

      Disgustingly low levels of benefits, and the deliberate (Caused by Government immigration and employment policy) pool of desperate unemployed, ARE keeping hard working New Zealanders wages down.

    • One Anonymous Bloke 10.3

      Mark, all the way through the election campaign, all the political leaders said they had no chance to discuss policy.

      Now, how would things have played out minus KDC? Have a bleedin’ guess.

      Are you lying deliberately about Labour’s focus on welfare over work, or are you just an unthinking dupe, regurgitating the lines you’re been spoonfed?

      Do I have to cut and paste from Labour’s policy documents and rub your dupe face in them?

  11. boldsirbrian 11

    ( boldsirbrian – I was “brian” but have changed my username to avoid confusion with others)

    Your link to “and the work has already begun.” at the end of the article.

    I followed the link, and the Greens have indeed hit the ground running.
    Impressive. Very impressive

    The Greens were ignored in the election campaign because of the Dirty Politics, the Moment of Truth, and the Media obsession with the direction Winston First would go. (I’ve no regrets about the issues of Dirty Politics and the GCSB, as they were and are extremely important. I’ve nothing to offer on the continuing cunning politics by Winnie)

    The Greens are currently being overshadowed by the circus over the fence at Labour. Good omens are that Labour recognise that they made a mistake not cooperating with the Greens. The Greens however still need to sort out their voting in strategic electorates such as Ohariu.

    All I can say to the Greens, is please continue to carry on doing as you are doing. The Party may not have increased it’s share of the vote, but it has held it’s own. The image of Greens is now of a professional, stable party. Gone are the days when it could promise anything, without a hope of being anything else but an opposition voice. It’s a party with pride. The vision is clear. People know what it stands for. There is a base on which it can still grow.

    • boldsirbrian 11.1

      ( boldsirbrian – I was “brian” but have changed my username to avoid confusion with others)

      @ boldsirbrian (11)

      Just some more bouquets for Greens, that the Labour circus could take note of, perhaps.

      Leadership
      Smart move, made years ago to have the “double” leadership. It works. Well. Both leaders are sharp and competent. The two leaders are better than the sum of their parts. There is no sense of one being more “senior” than the other, or the two being in competition. It’s really just as good as it could be.

      Team
      The Greens present the best “team” of all the parties. Go to the Greens website. There is not the image of the Party being a “One Man Show”. For a start there are two leaders presenting news and policy. But there is also plenty from the team. This, in the long term provides credibility for everybody in the Party. And so all candidates, as well as the Leader(s) are effectively selling the Party, as well as themselves. Contrast this with both Labour and the Dirty Party. Their whole credibility rests with the Leader, and everybody else is effectively silenced. For the other parties, it is a waste of resources.

      Vision
      The Greens are becoming known for their clear vision on the environment. The Party has been consistent for years. It is the single most important vision that marks them out from all other parties. The Greens are correct in not compromising on principles. Economic growth should not, and must not trump long term environmental concerns.

      But apart from the environment, the Greens have carved out a position where they clearly stand for Social Justice (Issues of Poverty and Inequality, for example), and individual freedom ( Opposition to Five evil eyes, etc) that can be equalled elsewhere, but not bettered. They are also the “Goto” party for responsible comment on science , which again can be equalled elsewhere, but not bettered.

      I assume that discussion within the Greens is robust. This is, after all, politics. But what the Greens do particularly well is model cooperativeness; friendliness, helpfulness. Above all, they are not tainted at all, with (even the smell of) Dirty Politics. These attributes perhaps mean little in the short term, but are significant in the long term.

      Watch list
      Green candidate to watch for in the future: Robert Moore

  12. James 12

    Let National have the country. The people got the government they wanted and the government they deserve.

  13. waikatosinger 13

    Reviewing the RMA is apparently high up in National’s agenda for the next parliamentary term. That should also help boost the Greens to prominence in the opposition as it is exactly their kind of issue.

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    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    3 hours ago
  • Relentlessly negative
    Negative yesterday, negative today. Negative all year, according to one departing reader telling me I’ve grown strident and predictable. Fair enough. If it’s any help, every time I go to write about a certain topic that begins with C and ends with arrrrs, I do brace myself and ask: Again? Are ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    4 hours ago
  • Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    Bryce Edwards writes –  It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 hours ago
  • Promiscuous Empathy: Chris Trotter Replies To His Critics.
    Inspirational: The Family of Man is a glorious hymn to human equality, but, more than that, it is a clarion call to human freedom. Because equality, unleavened by liberty, is a broken piano, an unstrung harp; upon which the songs of fraternity will never be played. “Somebody must have been telling lies about ...
    4 hours ago
  • Don’t run your business like a criminal enterprise
    The Detail this morning highlights the police's asset forfeiture case against convicted business criminal Ron Salter, who stands to have his business confiscated for systemic violations of health and safety law. Business are crying foul - but not for the reason you'd think. Instead of opposing the post-conviction punishment and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 hours ago
  • Misremembering Justinian’s Taxes.
    Tax Lawyer Barbara Edmonds vs Emperor Justinian I - Nolo Contendere: False historical explanations of pivotal events are very far from being inconsequential.WHEN BARBARA EDMONDS made reference to the Roman Empire, my ears pricked up. It is, lamentably, very rare to hear a politician admit to any kind of familiarity ...
    5 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Scoring 4.6 out of 10, the new Government is struggling in the polls
    It’s been a tumultuous time in politics in recent months, as the new National-led Government has driven through its “First 100 Day programme”. During this period there’s been a handful of opinion polls, which overall just show a minimal amount of flux in public support for the various parties in ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    6 hours ago
  • Bishop scores headlines with crackdown on unwelcome tenants – but Peters scores, too, as tub-thump...
    Buzz from the Beehive Housing Minister Chris Bishop delivered news – packed with the ingredients to enflame political passions – worthy of supplanting Winston Peters in headline writers’ priorities. He popped up at the post-Cabinet press conference to promise a crackdown on unruly and antisocial state housing tenants. His ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    7 hours ago
  • Will it make the boat go faster?
    Ele Ludemann writes – The Reserve Bank is advertising for a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion advisor. The Bank has one mandate – to keep inflation between one and three percent. It has failed in that and is only slowly getting inflation back down to the upper limit. Will it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bryce Edwards: Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi The fact that a ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    10 hours ago
  • Is Simon Bridges’ NZTA appointment a conflict of interest?
    Bryce Edwards writes – Last week former National Party leader Simon Bridges was appointed by the Government as the new chair of the New Zealand Transport Agency Waka Kotahi (NZTA). You can read about the appointment in Thomas Coughlan’s article, Simon Bridges to become chair of NZ Transport Agency ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' at 10:10am on Tuesday, March 19
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Gavin Jacobson talks to Thomas Piketty 10 years on from Capital in the 21st Century The SalvoLocal scoop: Green MP’s business being investigated over migrant exploitation claims Stuff Steve KilgallonLocal deep-dive: The commercial contractors making money from School ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    10 hours ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things on Tuesday, March 19
    It’s a home - but Kāinga Ora tenants accused of “abusing the privilege” may lose it. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The Government announced a crackdown on Kāinga Ora tenants who were unruly and/or behind on their rent, with Housing Minister Chris Bishop saying a place in a state ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    11 hours ago
  • New Life for Light Rail
    This is a guest post by Connor Sharp of Surface Light Rail  Light rail in Auckland: A way forward sooner than you think With the coup de grâce of Auckland Light Rail (ALR) earlier this year, and the shift of the government’s priorities to roads, roads, and more roads, it ...
    Greater AucklandBy Guest Post
    12 hours ago
  • Why Are Bosses Nearly All Buffoons?
    Note: As a paid-up Webworm member, I’ve recorded this Webworm as a mini-podcast for you as well. Some of you said you liked this option - so I aim to provide it when I get a chance to record! Read more ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    15 hours ago
  • Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6.06 pm on March 18
    TL;DR: In my ‘six-stack’ of substacks at 6.06pm on Monday, March 18:IKEA is accused of planting big forests in New Zealand to green-wash; REDD-MonitorA City for People takes a well-deserved victory lap over Wellington’s pro-YIMBY District Plan votes; A City for PeopleSteven Anastasiou takes a close look at the sticky ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    1 day ago
  • Peters holds his ground on co-governance, but Willis wriggles on those tax cuts and SNA suspension l...
    Buzz from the Beehive Here’s hoping for a lively post-cabinet press conference when the PM and – perhaps – some of his ministers tell us what was discussed at their meeting today. Until then, Point of Order has precious little Beehive news to report after its latest monitoring of the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    1 day ago
  • Labour’s final report card
    David Farrar writes –  We now have almost all 2023 data in, which has allowed me to update my annual table of how  went against its promises. This is basically their final report card. The promise The result Build 100,000 affordable homes over 10 ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • “Drunk Uncle at a Wedding”
    I’m a bit worried that I’ve started a previous newsletter with the words “just when you think they couldn’t get any worse…” Seems lately that I could begin pretty much every issue with that opening. Such is the nature of our coalition government that they seem to be outdoing each ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    1 day ago
  • Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Geoffrey Miller writes – Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    1 day ago
  • Gordon Campbell on Dune 2, and images of Islam
    Depictions of Islam in Western popular culture have rarely been positive, even before 9/11. Five years on from the mosque shootings, this is one of the cultural headwinds that the Muslim community has to battle against. Whatever messages of tolerance and inclusion are offered in daylight, much of our culture ...
    1 day ago
  • New Rail Operations Centre Promises Better Train Services
    Last week Transport Minster Simeon Brown and Mayor Wayne Brown opened the new Auckland Rail Operations Centre. The new train control centre will see teams from KiwiRail, Auckland Transport and Auckland One Rail working more closely together to improve train services across the city. The Auckland Rail Operations Centre in ...
    2 days ago
  • Bernard's six newsy things at 6.36am on Monday, March 18
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson said in an exit interview with Q+A yesterday the Government can and should sustain more debt to invest in infrastructure for future generations. Elsewhere in the news in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy at 6:36am: Read more ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: Wang Yi’s perfectly-timed, Aukus-themed visit to New Zealand
    Timing is everything. And from China’s perspective, this week’s visit by its foreign minister to New Zealand could be coming at just the right moment. The visit by Wang Yi to Wellington will be his first since 2017. Anniversaries are important to Beijing. It is more than just a happy ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    2 days ago
  • The Kaka’s diary for the week to March 25 and beyond
    TL;DR: The key events to watch in Aotearoa-NZ’s political economy in the week to March 18 include:China’s Foreign Minister visiting Wellington today;A post-cabinet news conference this afternoon; the resumption of Parliament on Tuesday for two weeks before Easter;retiring former Labour Finance Minister Grant Robertson gives his valedictory speech in Parliament; ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    2 days ago
  • Bitter and angry; Winston First
    New Zealand First Leader Winston Peters’s state-of-the-nation speech on Sunday was really a state-of-Winston-First speech. He barely mentioned any of the Government’s key policies and could not even wholly endorse its signature income tax cuts. Instead, he rehearsed all of his complaints about the Ardern Government, including an extraordinary claim ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • 2024 SkS Weekly Climate Change & Global Warming News Roundup #11
    A listing of 35 news and opinion articles we found interesting and shared on social media during the past week: Sun, March 10, 2024 thru Sat, March 16, 2024. Story of the week This week we'll give you a little glimpse into how we collect links to share and ...
    2 days ago
  • Out of Touch.
    “I’ve been internalising a really complicated situation in my head.”When they kept telling us we should wait until we get to know him, were they taking the piss? Was it a case of, if you think this is bad, wait till you get to know the real Christopher, after the ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    2 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • Bring out your Dad
    Happy fourth anniversary, Pandemic That Upended Bloody Everything. I have been observing it by enjoying my second bout of COVID. It’s 5.30 on Sunday morning and only now are lights turning back on for me.Allow me to copy and paste what I told reader Sara yesterday:Depleted, fogged and crappy. Resting, ...
    More Than A FeildingBy David Slack
    3 days ago
  • The bewildering world of Chris Luxon – Guns for all, not no lunch for kids
    .“$10 and a target that bleeds” - Bleeding Targets for Under $10!.Thanks for reading Frankly Speaking ! Subscribe for free to receive new posts and support my work.This government appears hell-bent on either scrapping life-saving legislation or reintroducing things that - frustrated critics insist - will be dangerous and likely ...
    Frankly SpeakingBy Frank Macskasy
    3 days ago
  • Expert Opinion: Ageing Boomers, Laurie & Les, Talk Politics.
    It hardly strikes me as fair to criticise a government for doing exactly what it said it was going to do. For actually keeping its promises.”THUNDER WAS PLAYING TAG with lightning flashes amongst the distant peaks. Its rolling cadences interrupted by the here-I-come-here-I-go Doppler effect of the occasional passing car. ...
    3 days ago
  • Manufacturing The Truth.
    Subversive & Disruptive Technologies: Just as happened with that other great regulator of the masses, the Medieval Church, the advent of a new and hard-to-control technology – the Internet –  is weakening the ties that bind. Then, and now, those who enjoy a monopoly on the dissemination of lies, cannot and will ...
    3 days ago
  • A Powerful Sensation of Déjà Vu.
    Been Here Before: To find the precedents for what this Coalition Government is proposing, it is necessary to return to the “glory days” of Muldoonism.THE COALITION GOVERNMENT has celebrated its first 100 days in office by checking-off the last of its listed commitments. It remains, however, an angry government. It ...
    3 days ago
  • Can you guess where world attention is focussed (according to Greenpeace)? It’s focussed on an EPA...
    Bob Edlin writes –  And what is the world watching today…? The email newsletter from Associated Press which landed in our mailbox early this morning advised: In the news today: The father of a school shooter has been found guilty of involuntary manslaughter; prosecutors in Trump’s hush-money case ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    3 days ago
  • Further integrity problems for the Greens in suspending MP Darleen Tana
    Bryce Edwards writes – Is another Green MP on their way out? And are the Greens severely tarnished by another integrity scandal? For the second time in three months, the Green Party has secretly suspended an MP over integrity issues. Mystery is surrounding the party’s decision to ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    3 days ago
  • Jacqui Van Der Kaay: Greens’ transparency missing in action
    For the last few years, the Green Party has been the party that has managed to avoid the plague of multiple scandals that have beleaguered other political parties. It appears that their luck has run out with a second scandal which, unfortunately for them, coincided with Golraz Ghahraman, the focus ...
    Democracy ProjectBy bryce.edwards
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s Dawn Chorus with six newsey things at 6:46am for Saturday, March 16
    TL;DR: The six newsey things that stood out to me as of 6:46am on Saturday, March 16.Andy Foster has accidentally allowed a Labour/Green amendment to cut road user chargers for plug-in hybrid vehicles, which the Government might accept; NZ Herald Thomas Coughlan Simeon Brown has rejected a plea from Westport ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • How Did FTX Crash?
    What seemed a booming success a couple of years ago has collapsed into fraud convictions.I looked at the crash of FTX (short for ‘Futures Exchange’) in November 2022 to see whether it would impact on the financial system as a whole. Fortunately there was barely a ripple, probably because it ...
    PunditBy Brian Easton
    4 days ago
  • Elections in Russia and Ukraine
    Anybody following the situation in Ukraine and Russia would probably have been amused by a recent Tweet on X NATO seems to be putting in an awful lot of effort to influence what is, at least according to them, a sham election in an autocracy.When do the Ukrainians go to ...
    4 days ago
  • Bernard’s six stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15
    TL;DR: Shaun Baker on Wynyard Quarter's transformation. Magdalene Taylor on the problem with smart phones. How private equity are now all over reinsurance. Dylan Cleaver on rugby and CTE. Emily Atkin on ‘Big Meat’ looking like ‘Big Oil’.Bernard’s six-stack of substacks at 6pm on March 15Photo by Jeppe Hove Jensen ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Buzz from the Beehive Finance Minister Nicola Willis had plenty to say when addressing the Auckland Business Chamber on the economic growth that (she tells us) is flagging more than we thought. But the government intends to put new life into it:  We want our country to be a ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    4 days ago
  • National’s clean car tax advances
    The Transport and Infrastructure Committee has reported back on the Road User Charges (Light Electric RUC Vehicles) Amendment Bill, basicly rubberstamping it. While there was widespread support among submitters for the principle that EV and PHEV drivers should pay their fair share for the roads, they also overwhelmingly disagreed with ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    4 days ago
  • Government funding bailouts
    Peter Dunne writes – This week’s government bailout – the fifth in the last eighteen months – of the financially troubled Ruapehu Alpine Lifts company would have pleased many in the central North Island ski industry. The government’s stated rationale for the $7 million funding was that it ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Two offenders, different treatments.
    See if you can spot the difference. An Iranian born female MP from a progressive party is accused of serial shoplifting. Her name is leaked to the media, which goes into a pack frenzy even before the Police launch an … Continue reading ...
    KiwipoliticoBy Pablo
    4 days ago
  • Treaty references omitted
    Ele Ludemann writes  – The government is omitting general Treaty references from legislation : The growth of Treaty of Waitangi clauses in legislation caused so much worry that a special oversight group was set up by the last Government in a bid to get greater coherence in the public service on Treaty ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • The Ghahraman Conflict
    What was that judge thinking? Peter Williams writes –  That Golriz Ghahraman and District Court Judge Maria Pecotic were once lawyer colleagues is incontrovertible. There is published evidence that they took at least one case to the Court of Appeal together. There was a report on ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    4 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 15
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Climate Scorpion – the sting is in the tail. Introducing planetary solvency. A paper via the University of Exeter’s Institute and Faculty of Actuaries.Local scoop: Kāinga Ora starts pulling out of its Auckland projects and selling land RNZ ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • The day Wellington up-zoned its future
    Wellington’s massively upzoned District Plan adds the opportunity for tens of thousands of new homes not just in the central city (such as these Webb St new builds) but also close to the CBD and public transport links. Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: Wellington gave itself the chance of ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    4 days ago
  • Weekly Roundup 15-March-2024
    It’s Friday and we’re halfway through March Madness. Here’s some of the things that caught our attention this week. This Week in Greater Auckland On Monday Matt asked how we can get better event trains and an option for grade separating Morningside Dr. On Tuesday Matt looked into ...
    Greater AucklandBy Greater Auckland
    5 days ago
  • That Word.
    Something you might not know about me is that I’m quite a stubborn person. No, really. I don’t much care for criticism I think’s unfair or that I disagree with. Few of us do I suppose.Back when I was a drinker I’d sometimes respond defensively, even angrily. There are things ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • The Hoon around the week to March 15
    Photo: Lynn Grieveson / The KākāTL;DR: The five things that mattered in Aotearoa’s political economy that we wrote and spoke about via The Kākā and elsewhere for paying subscribers in the last week included:PM Christopher Luxon said the reversal of interest deductibility for landlords was done to help renters, who ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Labour’s policy gap
    It was not so much the Labour Party but really the Chris Hipkins party yesterday at Labour’s caucus retreat in Martinborough. The former Prime Minister was more or less consistent on wealth tax, which he was at best equivocal about, and social insurance, which he was not willing to revisit. ...
    PolitikBy Richard Harman
    5 days ago
  • Skeptical Science New Research for Week #11 2024
    Open access notables A Glimpse into the Future: The 2023 Ocean Temperature and Sea Ice Extremes in the Context of Longer-Term Climate Change, Kuhlbrodt et al., Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society: In the year 2023, we have seen extraordinary extrema in high sea surface temperature (SST) in the North Atlantic and in ...
    5 days ago
  • Melissa remains mute on media matters but has something to say (at a sporting event) about economic ...
     Buzz from the Beehive   The text reproduced above appears on a page which records all the media statements and speeches posted on the government’s official website by Melissa Lee as Minister of Media and Communications and/or by Jenny Marcroft, her Parliamentary Under-secretary.  It can be quickly analysed ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    5 days ago
  • The return of Muldoon
    For forty years, Robert Muldoon has been a dirty word in our politics. His style of government was so repulsive and authoritarian that the backlash to it helped set and entrench our constitutional norms. His pig-headedness over forcing through Think Big eventually gave us the RMA, with its participation and ...
    No Right TurnBy Idiot/Savant
    5 days ago
  • Will the rental tax cut improve life for renters or landlords?
    Bryce Edwards writes –  Is the new government reducing tax on rental properties to benefit landlords or to cut the cost of rents? That’s the big question this week, after Associate Finance Minister David Seymour announced on Sunday that the Government would be reversing the Labour Government’s removal ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Geoffrey Miller: What Saudi Arabia’s rapid changes mean for New Zealand
    Saudi Arabia is rarely far from the international spotlight. The war in Gaza has brought new scrutiny to Saudi plans to normalise relations with Israel, while the fifth anniversary of the controversial killing of Jamal Khashoggi was marked shortly before the war began on October 7. And as the home ...
    Democracy ProjectBy Geoffrey Miller
    5 days ago
  • Racism’s double standards
    Questions need to be asked on both sides of the world Peter Williams writes –   The NRL Judiciary hands down an eight week suspension to Sydney Roosters forward Spencer Leniu , an Auckland-born Samoan, after he calls Ezra Mam, Sydney-orn but of Aboriginal and Torres Strait ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • It’s not a tax break
    Ele Ludemann writes – Contrary to what many headlines and news stories are saying, residential landlords are not getting a tax break. The government is simply restoring to them the tax deductibility of interest they had until the previous government removed it. There is no logical reason ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • The Plastic Pig Collective and Chris' Imaginary Friends.
    I can't remember when it was goodMoments of happiness in bloomMaybe I just misunderstoodAll of the love we left behindWatching our flashbacks intertwineMemories I will never findIn spite of whatever you becomeForget that reckless thing turned onI think our lives have just begunI think our lives have just begunDoes anyone ...
    Nick’s KōreroBy Nick Rockel
    5 days ago
  • Who is responsible for young offenders?
    Michael Bassett writes – At first reading, a front-page story in the New Zealand Herald on 13 March was bizarre. A group of severely intellectually limited teenagers, with little understanding of the law, have been pleading to the Justice Select Committee not to pass a bill dealing with ram ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    5 days ago
  • Gordon Campbell on National’s fantasy trip to La La Landlord Land
    How much political capital is Christopher Luxon willing to burn through in order to deliver his $2.9 billion gift to landlords? Evidently, Luxon is: (a) unable to cost the policy accurately. As Anna Burns-Francis pointed out to him on Breakfast TV, the original ”rock solid” $2.1 billion cost he was ...
    5 days ago
  • Bernard's Top 10 @ 10 'pick 'n' mix' for March 14
    TL;DR: My top 10 news and analysis links this morning include:Today’s must-read: Jonathon Porritt calling bullshit in his own blog post on mainstream climate science as ‘The New Denialism’.Local scoop: The Wellington City Council’s list of proposed changes to the IHP recommendations to be debated later today was leaked this ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • No, Prime Minister, rents don’t rise or fall with landlords’ costs
    TL;DR: Prime Minister Christopher Luxon said yesterday tenants should be grateful for the reinstatement of interest deductibility because landlords would pass on their lower tax costs in the form of lower rents. That would be true if landlords were regulated monopolies such as Transpower or Auckland Airport1, but they’re not, ...
    The KakaBy Bernard Hickey
    5 days ago
  • Cartoons: ‘At least I didn’t make things awkward’
    This is a re-post from Yale Climate Connections by Tom Toro Tom Toro is a cartoonist and author. He has published over 200 cartoons in The New Yorker since 2010. His cartoons appear in Playboy, the Paris Review, the New York Times, American Bystander, and elsewhere. Related: What 10 EV lovers ...
    6 days ago
  • Solving traffic congestion with Richard Prebble
    The business section of the NZ Herald is full of opinion. Among the more opinionated of all is the ex-Minister of Transport, ex-Minister of Railways, ex MP for Auckland Central (1975-93, Labour), Wellington Central (1996-99, ACT, then list-2005), ex-leader of the ACT Party, uncle to actor Antonia, the veritable granddaddy ...
    Greater AucklandBy Patrick Reynolds
    6 days ago
  • I Think I'm Done Flying Boeing
    Hi,Just quickly — I’m blown away by the stories you’ve shared with me over the last week since I put out the ‘Gary’ podcast, where I told you about the time my friend’s flatmate killed the neighbour.And you keep telling me stories — in the comments section, and in my ...
    David FarrierBy David Farrier
    6 days ago
  • Invoking Aristotle: Of Rings of Power, Stones, and Ships
    The first season of Rings of Power was not awful. It was thoroughly underwhelming, yes, and left a lingering sense of disappointment, but it was more expensive mediocrity than catastrophe. I wrote at length about the series as it came out (see the Review section of the blog, and go ...
    6 days ago
  • Van Velden brings free-market approach to changing labour laws – but her colleagues stick to distr...
    Buzz from the Beehive Workplace Relations and Safety Minister Brooke van Velden told Auckland Business Chamber members they were the first audience to hear her priorities as a minister in a government committed to cutting red tape and regulations. She brandished her liberalising credentials, saying Flexible labour markets are the ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago
  • Why Newshub failed
    Chris Trotter writes – TO UNDERSTAND WHY NEWSHUB FAILED, it is necessary to understand how TVNZ changed. Up until 1989, the state broadcaster had been funded by a broadcasting licence fee, collected from every citizen in possession of a television set, supplemented by a relatively modest (compared ...
    Point of OrderBy poonzteam5443
    6 days ago
  • Māori Party on the warpath against landlords and seabed miners – let’s see if mystical creature...
    Bob Edlin writes  –  The Māori Party has been busy issuing a mix of warnings and threats as its expresses its opposition to interest deductibility for landlords and the plans of seabed miners. It remains to be seen whether they  follow the example of indigenous litigants in Australia, ...
    Point of OrderBy Bob Edlin
    6 days ago

  • Government moves to quickly ratify the NZ-EU FTA
    "The Government is moving quickly to realise an additional $46 million in tariff savings in the EU market this season for Kiwi exporters,” Minister for Trade and Agriculture, Todd McClay says. Parliament is set, this week, to complete the final legislative processes required to bring the New Zealand – European ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    3 hours ago
  • Positive progress for social worker workforce
    New Zealand’s social workers are qualified, experienced, and more representative of the communities they serve, Social Development and Employment Minister Louise Upston says. “I want to acknowledge and applaud New Zealand’s social workers for the hard work they do, providing invaluable support for our most vulnerable. “To coincide with World ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    8 hours ago
  • Minister confirms reduced RUC rate for PHEVs
    Cabinet has agreed to a reduced road user charge (RUC) rate for plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), Transport Minister Simeon Brown says. Owners of PHEVs will be eligible for a reduced rate of $38 per 1,000km once all light electric vehicles (EVs) move into the RUC system from 1 April.  ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    10 hours ago
  • Trade access to overseas markets creates jobs
    Minister of Agriculture and Trade, Todd McClay, says that today’s opening of Riverland Foods manufacturing plant in Christchurch is a great example of how trade access to overseas markets creates jobs in New Zealand.  Speaking at the official opening of this state-of-the-art pet food factory the Minister noted that exports ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    11 hours ago
  • NZ and Chinese Foreign Ministers hold official talks
    Minister of Foreign Affairs Winston Peters met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Wellington today. “It was a pleasure to host Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his first official visit to New Zealand since 2017. Our discussions were wide-ranging and enabled engagement on many facets of New Zealand’s relationship with China, including trade, ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Kāinga Ora instructed to end Sustaining Tenancies
    Kāinga Ora – Homes & Communities has been instructed to end the Sustaining Tenancies Framework and take stronger measures against persistent antisocial behaviour by tenants, says Housing Minister Chris Bishop. “Earlier today Finance Minister Nicola Willis and I sent an interim Letter of Expectations to the Board of Kāinga Ora. ...
    BeehiveBy beehive.govt.nz
    1 day ago
  • Speech to Auckland Business Chamber: Growth is the answer
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